To limit the spread of COVID-19, governments around the world introduced restrictions on travel; limited social interactions, or mass gatherings; restricted the movement of people; closed schools and businesses; and prohibited access to public amenities, such as parks and beaches.

As the growth in the number of new cases has slowed in many countries, there has been a shift towards easing or relaxing restrictions. HIQA undertook a review of the steps being taken in a number of countries to ease restrictions initially introduced to limit or prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

15 July Update: This version contains updated information on the reintroduction of restrictive measures due to outbreaks and or increased numbers of new cases of COVID-19. Changes to measures have been made in affected sectors in Finland, Germany, Norway, Portugal, and the UK.

08 July Update: This version contains updated information on the reintroduction of restrictive measures due to outbreaks and or increased numbers of new cases of COVID-19. Measures have been introduced in affected sectors in Hong Kong and the Czech Republic and in designated areas in Spain and China. 

02 July update: This update also provides detail on the reintroduction of restrictive measures in Portugal and the UK  due to outbreaks and or increased numbers of new cases of COVID-19. This update also includes the Council of European Union recommendation on the lifting of the restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU.

25 June update: This version contains updated information on the reopening of universities and higher education institutions as COVID-19 restrictions ease. This update also provide detail on the reintroduction of restrictive measures in Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Spain, China and South Korea due to outbreaks and or increased numbers of new cases of COVID-19.